Thurston went on to highlight the many options available to Queensland, whose 2018 Origin team will take on a very different look in the absence of two iconic figures.

"We've got some really exciting halves playing at the moment," Thurston added. "Cameron Munster is on fire at Melbourne, Benny Hunt is on fire at St George, Michael Morgan has played in that role before and can get the job done, [Daly Cherry-Evans] has played Origin before and so had Anthony Milford so we've got loads of depth there.

"It's a new era for the Queensland team and I'm really excited for what lies ahead."

Game one of this year's Origin series takes place at the MCG on June 6.